News
Obituary: Joseph “J Baldy” Rinaldi
August 16, 2019
Joseph “J Baldy” Rinaldi, 76, passed into the never on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 10, 2019, surrounded by family and friends. He died from complications related to his battle with lung cancer. Baldy wa…
Profile: Mike Bower
August 16, 2019
■ BY SUE ERWIN If you’ve visited Hudson’s Grocery recently, you might have noticed a new face helping to run the store. Sporting a bright pink T-shirt, Mike Bower has been working hard at the store…
Pet owners: Use caution when coming in contact with lakes, ponds inland
August 16, 2019
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE Several readers have contacted me regarding the news reports nationwide of pets dying after swimming in water affected by Harmful Algae Blooms, or HABs. Blue-green algae, otherw…
It’s high tide at midnight: Do you know where your tarpon is?
August 16, 2019
■ BY JOELLEN WILSON, BONEFISH & TARPON TRUST Ten years ago Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) started a tarpon-tagging project in Charlotte Harbor. Back then we used heavy and expensive satellit…
Lightning the cause of two island fires just hours apart
August 9, 2019
■ STAFF REPORT Sporadic and intense lightning storms were named as the culprit in two fire incidents that occurred this week. The first call came in on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 8:26 p.m. as an outside …
UPDATE: Lee County Code Enforcement sweeps island on Friday, closes some complaints
August 9, 2019
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE UPDATED STORY AS OF THE AFTERNOON OF FRIDAY, AUG. 9 … A Code Enforcement officer was on the island Friday morning, and he has already closed out several of the complaints agains…
Don’t forget the paving at the bridge
August 9, 2019
■ STAFF REPORT The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority will be having the road paved from Placida Road to the toll booth, beginning sometime around August 12. Be prepared for one-lane traffic and so…
BIPS announces new lighthouse plates available
August 9, 2019
■ STAFF REPORT Images of Jupiter’s beloved, iconic Light are everywhere, and now a very special one is coming to a Florida Tax Collector’s office near you. On Aug. 9, the Department of Motor Vehicl…
Stay tuned for Baldyfest news next week
August 9, 2019
■ STAFF REPORT Boca Grande came out in full force to Litchfield, Maine to honor one of our own, Chief Joe “Baldy” Rinaldi, this past weekend. It was a little bit hectic to try to get all the photos…
ISLAND SHERIFF, FIRE AND EMS NEWS: LCSO investigates stolen golf cart charger
August 9, 2019
■ STAFF REPORT Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call from an island resident on Thursday, Aug. 1 regarding a stolen golf cart charger from her fenced yard. According to reports, …